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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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 OPINION 
30

Netflix Is for 'Blobby People'

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(Newser) – Like 10.6 million Americans, Time film critic Richard Corliss has a subscription to Netflix, which sends everything from Bollywood megamusicals to BBC miniseries to his mailbox. "No question," Corliss admits, "Netflix serves a need"—it's super cheap and stocked with titles. But the DVD delivery service has killed off independent stores run by Tarantino-like obsessives, while we turn into "those blobby people in WALL•E."

Not long ago you could ask a video clerk for a recommendation and discover a forgotten foreign masterpiece, but when Corliss rented an Indian drama, he was told that he'd also like "Season 1 of Scrubs." And while Netflix's new on-demand service may provide instant gratification, that may not be such a good thing. "You'll be what the online corporate culture wants you to be," Corliss writes: "a passive, inert receptacle for its products."

A Netflix customer prepares to watch the movie 'True Lies' at her home in Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 22, 2007.
A Netflix customer prepares to watch the movie 'True Lies' at her home in Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 22, 2007.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
Mei Michelson prepares to return movies to Netflix from her home in Palo Alto, Calif., Monday, Oct. 22, 2007.
Mei Michelson prepares to return movies to Netflix from her home in Palo Alto, Calif., Monday, Oct. 22, 2007.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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In a deep recession, Netflix has also taught film fans that renting a movie or TV series not only is way less expensive than buying but also takes up no shelf space when you move from your foreclosed home into your parents' basement. - Richard Corliss

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30 comments
VIEWING:
 
Netstorm2k9
Aug 3, 09 7:38 AM CDT
I'm guessing Netflix and Time are owned by rival companies, then? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+7
Altoecko
Aug 3, 09 7:41 AM CDT
Not sure but I really enjoy Netflix. You gotta rate a LOT of movies before it starts giving good suggestions though. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+8
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Aug 3, 09 8:39 AM CDT
Yet a store clerk will give one instantly and even to non-members.
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
surlyotter
Aug 3, 09 8:44 AM CDT
whether you will happen to agree with the store clerk's personal preferences, however, is another matter entirely...
Vote up! Vote down!
+7
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Aug 3, 09 9:12 AM CDT
It would be closer than Scrubs.
Vote up! Vote down!
+2

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